moneysupermarket.com urges people to stay safe online

In support of get safe online week James Parker, commercial manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com, offers advice on how to stay safe when using Wi-Fi networks and how to avoid the dangers of spam:

"There are plenty of dangers people need to be aware of when using the internet, particularly Wi-Fi networks. A recent survey from moneysupermarket.com found one in nine people (11 per cent) had used another person's Wi-Fi network without them knowing, which is a staggering amount - you wouldn't expect that many people to go into a neighbour's house and use their shower. This is a worrying trend and shows some people have no conscience when sitting in front of their computer behind closed doors.

"The consequences can be severe. It's bad enough your neighbours can use your internet connection freely, but this becomes far more threatening if someone uses your connection for criminal or improper activity. This could be accessing your internet connection to download obscene material, gathering personal information to defraud you or even stealing your identity."

moneysupermarket.com's top tips to be safe with Wi-Fi

Password protect your wireless internet connection with non-dictionary words and numbers
Check that your router uses WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) rather than WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption
Know your download limit and what it translates to (i.e. 5 music albums)
Make sure you have appropriate security software and firewall
If you have children, use parental controls as well as password protection for the router.

Commenting on spam, Parker added: "With the internet and mobile phones playing such an integral part in everyday life, the opportunity for spammers to attack is huge. Another survey from moneysupermarket.com reveals Brits receive an average of 10 spam messages every day and only 10 per cent of people automatically filter their emails against spam. This is really surprising considering spam emails often contain viruses that can steal your private information; the need for security is paramount."

moneysupermarket.com top tips to stay spam free

Make sure you use any automatic spam filters/pop up blockers that your email provider may provide
Keep spyware and anti-virus software up to date
Do not open emails or attachments from addresses you don't recognise
Be wary of downloading applications from sites such as facebook, they can often be malware
If you receive an email from a prince asking you for money in return for a lot more money it is too good to be true - avoid like the plague